Hand piece for the delivery of light and system employing the hand piece

Abstract

The invention described here is an improved hand piece for the delivery of light and a system employing the hand piece. The hand piece typically includes a body and an optical element such as an optical fiber coextensive with the body. The system can include a remote light source and an optical element (e.g., a source optical fiber) for providing light to the hand piece.

1 . A hand piece suitable for the delivery of light in medical applications, the hand piece comprising: 
 a central shaft assembly having a proximate end and a distal end, the shaft assembly including:    i. an proximal ferrule;    ii. a distal ferrule; and    iii. an optical element extending between the proximal and the distal ferrule;    an outer grippable body for substantially surrounding the central shaft assembly.    
   
   
       2 . A hand piece as in  claim 1  further comprising a retaining sleeve at the proximate end of the shaft assembly.  
   
   
       3 . A hand piece as in  claim 1  wherein the optical fiber is hermetically sealed within the central shaft assembly, the body or both such that the hand piece can be sterilized without substantial degradation to the optical fiber.  
   
   
       4 . A hand piece as in  claim 1  wherein the central shaft assembly further includes a center shaft body.  
   
   
       5 . A hand piece as in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a tip wherein at least the outer body and the tip are disposable and are attachable and removable from the distal ferrule and the optical fiber and wherein the body and the tip cover the distal ferrule and the optical fiber when attached.    
   
   
       6 . A hand piece as in  claim 1  wherein one or more characteristics of the optical fiber are configured to match one or more characteristics of a source fiber that delivers light to the optical fiber.  
   
   
       7 . A hand piece as in  claim 6  the one or more characteristics of the optical fiber and the source fibers include diameter of the optical fiber and source fiber and tolerance of the diameter of the optical fiber and source fiber.  
   
   
       8 . A hand piece as in  claim 1  wherein the proximate ferrule, the distal ferrule or both extend outwardly beyond the outer body of the hand piece thereby allowing for access to the proximate ferrule, the distal ferrule or both, which, in turn, allows for cleaning, polishing or both thereof.  
   
   
       9 . A hand piece as in  claim 1  wherein the body, the ferrules, the optical fiber or any combination thereof are configured such that exposure of the hand piece to elevated temperature minimally affects the optical performance of the hand piece.  
   
   
       10 . A hand piece as in  claim 9  wherein the temperature expansion/contraction characteristics of the material of the body are substantially matched to the temperature expansion/contraction characteristics of the optical fiber, the ferrules or both.  
   
   
       11 . A hand piece as in  claim 4  wherein the hand piece is soaked at an elevated temperature such that the optical fiber is located in the central shaft body, the outer body or both in an manner that provide enough slack to the optical fiber to allow future exposure of the hand piece to elevated temperature without significantly stretching the optical fiber.  
   
   
       12 . A hand piece as in  claim 1  wherein the proximate ferrule is provided a standard size that allows connection to a source fiber have a standard size connector.  
   
   
       13 . A hand piece suitable for the delivery of light in medical applications, the hand piece comprising: 
 a central shaft assembly having a proximate end and a distal end, the shaft assembly including:    i. a proximate ferrule;    ii. a distal ferrule;    iii. an optical fiber extending between the proximal ferrule and the distal ferrule; and    iv. a central shaft body substantially surrounding the optical fiber;    an outer grippable body for substantially surrounding the central shaft assembly; and    a retaining sleeve for assisting in connecting and disconnecting the hand piece to a source optical element;    wherein, for protecting the optical fiber from degradation during serialization, either i) the optical fiber is hermetically seal within the hand piece, ii) the optical fiber is provided with slack or iii) temperature expansion/contraction characteristics of the material of the outer body, the central shaft body or both are matched to the temperature expansion/contraction characteristics of the optical fiber, the ferrules or both within the hand piece.    
   
   
       14 . A hand piece as in  claim 13  further comprising: 
 a tip wherein at least the outer body and the tip are disposable and are attachable and removable from the distal ferrule and the optical fiber and wherein the body and the tip cover the distal ferrule and the optical fiber when attached.    
   
   
       15 . A hand piece as in  claim 13  wherein one or more characteristics of the optical fiber are configured to match one or more characteristics of a source fiber that delivers light to the optical fiber and wherein the one or more characteristics of the optical fiber and the source fibers include diameter of the optical fiber and source fiber and tolerance of the diameter of the optical fiber and source fiber.  
   
   
       16 . A hand piece as in  claim 13  wherein the proximate ferrule, the distal ferrule or both extend outwardly beyond the outer body of the hand piece thereby allowing for access to the proximate ferrule, the distal ferrule or both, which, in turn, allows for cleaning, polishing or both thereof.  
   
   
       17 . A hand piece as in  claim 13  wherein the hand piece is soaked at an elevated temperature such that the optical fiber is located in the central shaft body, the outer body or both in an manner that provide enough slack to the optical fiber to allow future exposure of the hand piece to elevated temperature without significantly stretching the optical fiber.  
   
   
       18 . A hand piece as in  claim 13  wherein the proximate ferrule is provided a standard size that allows connection to a source fiber have a standard size connector.  
   
   
       19 . A hand piece suitable for the delivery of light in medical applications, the hand piece comprising: 
 a central shaft assembly having a proximate end and a distal end, the shaft assembly including:    i. a proximate ferrule;    ii. a distal ferrule;    iii, an optical fiber extending between the proximal ferrule and the distal ferrule; and    iv, a central shaft body substantially surrounding the optical fiber;    an outer grippable body for substantially surrounding the central shaft assembly; and    a retaining sleeve for assisting in connecting and disconnecting the hand piece to a source optical element;    wherein, for protecting the optical fiber from degradation during sterilization, either i) the optical fiber is hermetically seal within the hand piece, ii) the optical fiber is provided with slack or iii) temperature expansion/contraction characteristics of the material of the outer body, the central shaft body or both are matched to the temperature expansion/contraction characteristics of the optical fiber, the ferrules or both within the hand piece;    wherein one or more characteristics of the optical fiber are configured to match one or more characteristics of a source fiber that delivers light to the optical fiber and the one or more characteristics of the optical fiber and the source fibers include diameter of the optical fiber and source fiber and tolerance of the diameter of the optical fiber and source fiber;    wherein the proximate ferrule, the distal ferrule or both extend outwardly beyond the body of the hand piece thereby allowing for access to the proximate ferrule, the distal ferrule or both, which, in turn, allows for cleaning, polishing or both thereof; and    wherein the proximate ferrule is provided a standard size that allows connection to a source fiber having a standard size connector.    
   
   
       20 . A hand piece as in  claim 19  further comprising: 
 a tip wherein at least the outer body and the tip are disposable and are attachable and removable from the distal ferrule and the optical fiber and wherein the body and the tip cover the distal ferrule and the optical fiber when attached.